Dehorning Cuts Rhino Poaching by 78% in Study

A seven-year study in South Africa’s Greater Kruger region has found that dehorning rhinos results in a 78% reduction in poaching, providing robust evidence for its effectiveness over traditional, costly anti-poaching measures. Dehorning must be repeated every one to two years as horns regrow, but the method is much less expensive and more successful than militarized patrols or surveillance. Conservationists describe dehorning as a 'necessary evil' due to ongoing high demand for rhino horn in illegal markets, particularly in Asia. Researchers caution that the practice is only a temporary solution, as poachers may still target hornless animals or shift to other populations, and that breaking up organized crime is essential for long-term success. The global rhino population has plunged from 500,000 a century ago to fewer than 28,000 today, with most surviving rhinos in Africa. The study calls for a strategic overhaul of anti-poaching efforts, emphasizing that dehorning buys time but does not address the root causes of wildlife crime.